Sunday, March 16, 2014

Book Review: Author Alan Paul Gives The Allman Brothers Band "One Way Out"

For fans of the Allman Brothers Band, this is an exciting, but also sad year. This year is the band's 45th anniversary and they are celebrating first with a string of live shows at their usual March stop at the Beacon Theatre. After wrapping up those dates, the band will head out on the road this summer, but it will be the last performances of the double-guitar attack of Warran Hayes and Derek Trucks, who announced their retirement from the band.

While a new album is nowhere in the future plans of the band, they have not forgotten about new music as they recently released a double live CD set ("Live at the Beacon Theatre 1992") and a live DVD ("Live At Great Woods"). Also, one of the most exciting things to come out this year is "One Way Out: The Inside History of The Allman Brothers Band" book. It was published back in February through St. Martin's Press and features the complete history of band as told by the past and present members of the band.

Author Alan Paul does an excellent job covering every aspect of the band's career, beginning with the studio sessions of original guitarist Duane Allman and the uncomfortable first meeting of the legendary rhythm section of Butch Truck and Jaimoe. The book plays out like a "round table" discussion with everyone who has been a part of the history of the band, including past producers and fellow musicians like Eric Clapton.

The book touches upon the recording sessions for almost every album as well as touchy subjects like the deaths of Duane Allman and Barry Oakley; and the exit of Dickey Betts. Alan Paul brings together his discussions with over 60 people and organizes it to make it sound like they have all sat down together to discuss the history of this wonderfully amazing band.